Improvement in gates



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SAMUEL L. MARSDEN, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

Leners Pam: No. 58,575, daad April 6,1869.

INEPROVEMENT IN GATES.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. MARSDEN, of New Haven, in the Vcounty of New Haven, 'and State of Gonnecticut, have .invented a new and improvedMethod of Operating Self-Closing Doors, Gates, &c.; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a clear and exact description'thereof,reference being had to the accom panylilng drawings, making part of thisspecification, in w 1c Figure 1 is a view in elevation, representing agate constructed with my improvement.

Figure 2 is -a similar View, with the post Ashown in vertical section. ld

Figure 3 is a detached view, showing a portiouof the spindle E andsleeve H, for fastening the gate at any desired point.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

.As represented in the drawings- A'is au upright shaft, or column,analogous in its form and position to one of the posts of a gate, asordinarily constructed, but forming part of the movable portion of thegate itself, the rails B B being framed thereto, as Vis theuprightO,which, with the pickets il d, compose the gate. s

The shaft may be either of wood, stone, or cast-iron, as is best adaptedto its situation and uses, and is either constructed hollow in itsinterior, or, if formed of solid material, is bored longitudinally, forthe purpose of receiving an upright spindle, E.

This spindle is firmly embedded in a stone, F, or other suitablefoundation, and extends to nearly the height of the shaft.

The lower part thereof is provided with screw-threads, and an internalscrew is cut in the lower portion of the shaft, (if of metal,) toreceive the threaded portion of the spindle. l

If the shaft is composed of wood or other non-me-y tallic substance, anut may be inserted, and secured in the lower end.

The shaft, being placed upon the spindle, and their screw-portionsconnected, the weight thereof, and also of the gate and itsappurtenances, is sustainedpupon the screw-threads alone, the angle, orinclination of which is such as to overcome the friction, and the shaftturns, or follows down the screw, until its motion is arrested, thuscausing 'the gate to swing, or revolve, the spindle being the axis ofmotion.

'Ihe inclination of the screw-threads ,may be more or less, according tothe weight of the gate, and its resistance, but should'always be sosteep that the weight will considerably preponderate over the friction,and cause it toturn quickly. d

A stop, G, is provided, to arrest the motion at `the right point,against which the gate closes.

The screw may be constructed with a single thread or with a series ofthreads. I prefer the latter, generally not' less than three or fourthreads, as best calculated for durability.

. To enable' different gates to be opened in diierent directions, eitherto the right or left, it is necessary thatl the direction of thescrewthreads be reversed, on a portion of the spindles, forming what istermed iight-and-left-hand screws.

The same arrangement may be applied to doors (and also gates) of allkinds, by constructing the hinges in the same manner, the spindleforming that portion of the hinge which is attached to the jamb, orwall, and the shaft Arthe part which is attached to the door.

A still simpler application consists in setting the spindle E in thedoor, and inserting the internal screw, in the form of a nut, within thestile of the door, at the axis, or point on which it turns, with a pivotcorresponding tothe spindle at the top.

This requires only the rounding of the edge of the door, to allow it toturn in the casing, to form a concealed hinge, and constitute aself-closing door.

- It 'also dispenses with all springs, joints, and'otherV outwardappliances, renderingthe door more comely, and Vobviating the creakingof ordinary* hinges, as its operation is entirely' noiseless. v

As applied to gates, and occasionally to doors, an accessory isrequired, to enable them to be xed to a certain point, when required toremain open, and also to' secure them from being easily opened whenclosed.

This I accomplish by means of a sleeve, H, working.

in an opening, transverse to the spindle, which passes through it, asshown in g. 4.

A thumb-screw, I, is provided on the projecting-end of thel sleeve, byturning which, it is drawn so tightly against the spindle as to bind itagainst the interior of the shaft, and hold it so rmly as to prevent thegate from moving by its own Weight.

The spindle should have a bearing in the shaft, at or near its upperextremity, to prevent any tendency Aof the shaft to swerve from theperpendicular.

I am aware that spirally-incl'ined planes and sur# faces have beenemployed to render the hinges of gates and doors self-shutting; but I amnot aware that a screw has ever been'employed as the axis on which thegate or door swings, by which it is rendered selfclosing, and othervaluable results are obtained, as specified. Therefore, v

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The employment of the screw-threaded spindle E, in combination with theshaft A, or its equivalent, provided with a corresponding internalscrew, when so arranged and applied that the spindle forms the axis onwhich the gate or door revolves, and the threads support the weightthereof, substantially in thenianner and for the purposes set forth.

Also, the adjustable sleeve H and thumb-screw I, in combination with thespindle E and shaft A, an ranged and operating substantially as and forIthe purposes described.

SAML L. MARSDEN. Witnesses:

ELEAZER K. FOSTER, Jr., J orcs PIO. FOSTER.

